The event witnessed enthusiastic participation of more than 50,000 people in a day
Our Bureau
Naperville, IL
Indian Community Outreach (ICO) in Naperville, IL celebrated the occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day with its colorful event showcasing Indian culture in the grand India Day Parade and celebration on August 11th. In just ten years, this event has gained prominence in becoming a big Indian American celebration in the US featuring numerous attractions. This year was no exception and it witnessed many enthusiastic participants and attendees with estimated foot traffic of 50,000+ throughout the day.
A Feature-Rich Event – Year after year, India Day Celebrations brings a magnificent platform for the Indian Americans to showcase their talents in the domains of art, dance, music, and culture. With the celebrations spanning the entire day, it encompasses the true nature of a festival – food, cultural show, parade, and music. A two-hour, mile long, parade was the highlight featuring intricately and beautifully decorated multiple floats, various community organizations, businesses, and public figures, capturing the imagination of one and all. There were sponsors and businesses presenting their products, a health fair providing pre-screening for common ailments, an international food court with scrumptious menu from various local and out of state vendors, and ethnic Indian bazaar with fashion, clothing, and jewellery attracted the attention of the attendees.
Krishna Bansal, Chairman/President of the ICO, and the chief organizer of the event, said that the Celebrations and the Parade were aimed at engaging Indian Americans into the mainstream fabric of America. He stated, with a sense of pride that this event has not only created huge awareness and respect for India while it has re-ignited the love and pride for India amongst the multiple generations of Indians in US. Bansal holds the parade very close to his heart as it symbolizes the engagement of people from all walks of life, showcasing the true spirit of India through the vibrancy that it brings about. Bansal specially recognized the dignitaries, partners, sponsors, media, and volunteers and everyone who contributed to the stupendous success of the event.
International Bollywood Sensation, the duo of Salim Sulaiman, came as the Grand Marshalls of the parade and waved both the Indian and US flag from the ICO float through Mill Street. Exuberant number of people lined the Grand Parade route waving flags of both the United States and India. The Parade showcased culture, dances, and uniqueness from over 20 states of India and was aired live by many media outlets. Sponsors /participants brought beautiful decorations to commemorate the event and created true color and vibrancy to the parade. As the cars roared through the parade route, it created even more excitement for the spectators. The mile-long parade was truly a moving celebration that demonstrated the rich culture of India here in the United States. The participation of the US Military was the special highlight of the Parade.
After the parade, there was a whole day of events that took place on Rotary Hill. The Talent show included unique and vibrant performances by the best and most brilliant dance groups of Chicagoland. The spectacular display of flair by Indian youth in music and dance left everyone awe-struck. The winner of the talent show was the dance teams from Team Ghunguru and runners-up was Shirlzar who all were given the opportunity to perform once again in the evening stage program. Barani Kannan, a passionate singer from Naperville, performed in multiple South Indian languages. Simultaneously, there were numerous performances that occurred on the platform under the Carillon Tower that brought lots of energy and excitement throughout the ground. After the cultural show, ICO Scholarship winners were recognized on stage and were presented with checks and certificates. DJ’s Salman and Sajan Vadali rocked the stage for the rest of the afternoon before the evening program.
The free Health Fair with multiple providers and many senior citizens were happy with blood pressure, blood sugar, bone density screening and availability of multi-disciplinary medical services like physical therapy, fall-risk screening, pain management, body composition screening and sleep apnea under one roof to answer their questions. The international food court featured delicacies from all parts of India, fusion cuisines, ice cream/kulfi and more.
The evening program kicked off with the American national anthem followed by the Indian national anthem. The renditions were remarkable and brought about serenity in the air. Bollywood hit singer Krishna Beuraa started off the concert with timeless melodies. The highly acclaimed Indian Bollywood Duo, Salim-Sulaiman, set the stage on fire with several Bollywood hit songs. They kick-started the scintillating evening with the most unforgettable melodies. The audience were mesmerized by the dazzling display of musical talent and a fusion of the musical capabilities of the team. This proved to be a grand treat for the music enthusiasts and made the celebrations special. Salim-Sulaiman garnered huge admiration from the fully packed audience for their musical talent.
Appreciations Galore – Consul General of India, Hon. Somnath Ghosh, was one of the Guests of Honor at the event. He congratulated ICO and wished everyone the Happy Independence Day of India. Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli along with scores of Congressmen, elected Judges, Senators, Representatives, County Members, Township Trustees, Mayors, Councilmen and prominent leaders of Chicago and Naperville also graced the occasion. Dr. Bharat Barai read the message from the Prime Minister Modi sent for the occasion. Amongst honorees for this year were the Patel Brothers – Mafat Patel and Tulsi Patel for 50 years of bringing homeland to Indian Americans, Shri Shalabh Kumar and Shri Darshan Singh Dhaliwal for their enormous contributions to the community.
Vandana Jhingan, ICO Advisor, said that the Parade has surpassed expectations in both magnitude and participation. “We are constantly working to raise the bar to prove to the world that the Indian Americans are the best, both as human beings and professionals,” she added.
Viral Shah, ICO Treasurer, stated that the event was free for the public. A program of this magnitude takes a village to put up and that is what our core team does year after year. This was made possible with the generous support of our sponsors, including business organizations and leaders, technology companies, corporates, and local organizations. Patel Brothers were the Title sponsor for the event.
The successful culmination of the event witnessed a tribute to members of the ICO who toiled for days and months, with many spending sleepless nights to ensure that every minute detail from the space between floats, heightened security to the emergency and evacuation plans to make the pioneering event in Naperville memorable and safe.
Krishna Bansal thanked sponsors, media, partners, dignitaries, core team, volunteers, and everyone who attended the event. He announced to be back next year with a bang on August 10, 2025, and urged everyone to join the outreach efforts and encouraged them to visit its website for more details.
